The 68th Grammy Awards was all about making statements. A night of big swings, historic wins, and artists fully coming into their own. From albums that defied genres to breakout voices, the industry has been keeping an eye on. The ceremony was a celebration of the music industry undergoing a long-overdue transition.
Here is a full rundown of all the major categories and standout winners that went home proudly clutching an award.
Album of the Year: Bad Bunny — DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Benito, better known as Bad Bunny’s win is a historic victory. Not only did he win the most coveted award, but he did it with a fully Spanish-language album. This marks the first time a Spanish album has been acknowledged by the biggest prize of the night.
The album tells the story of Puerto Rican life and the gentrification it is going through at the moment. The album fuses reggaeton with nostalgia. This win proves that the global music scene no longer has to rely on translation to break out of its local market.
Record of the Year: Kendrick Lamar & SZA — luther
Announced by Cher, “luther” was recognised for its seamless production and depth of emotion. Kendrick Lamar and SZA put forward a track that feels touching yet doesn’t limit its scope, melding sonic prowess with lyrical intricacy.
The win serves as a reminder of Kendrick’s place as a Grammy favourite, as well as the collaborative power of him and SZA, whose vocals will be celebrated for generations to come.
Song of the Year: Billie Eilish — Wildflower
Despite being snubbed the previous year, Billie Eilish’s decision to release “Wildflower” as a single has finally gotten her a well-deserved Song of the Year win. With earnest lyrics and haunting melodies, the track truly stood out.
The song has maintained its longevity, and the subtle tones of it have cemented its success on music’s biggest stage.
Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
The British singer-songwriter won Best New Artist amongst strong contenders, demonstrating a shift towards music with soul and emotion. Rather than pandering to the industry, her win felt more like long-overdue recognition.
With her warm vocals and an intentional, layered writing style, Dean has emerged as an artist with clear promise. Her speech struck a chord with audiences, who connected with her reflections on being the child of immigrants and the vital role immigrant communities play in the United States.
Best Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga — Mayhem
Lady Gaga returned to music, doing what she does best: high theatrics and powerhouse vocals. Mayhem was a blend of conventional pop structures with elevated performances, which reminded audiences why Lady Gaga is no less than a living legend in the music scene.
The album had a confident, unapologetic tone, and the Recording Academy awarded her for it.
Best Pop Solo Performance: Lola Young — Messy
Ïn a breakout Grammy moment, Lola Young’s “Messy” ended up taking home the award for Best Pop Solo Performance. The rawness of the vocals made it a breath of fresh air on the pop music scene.
This win is the greatest signifier of the Grammys’ growing attitude to diversity and emerging voices.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande — Defying Gravity
The viral duo, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their emotional rendition of the classic musical number, “Defying Gravity”. The duo brought a new life to the Broadway lyrics through live vocals and an honest understanding of the characters they were playing, Elphaba and Glinda.
The win celebrates a collaboration that maintained the theatrical intensity of the piece with the restraint required by cinema.
Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Kendrick Lamar took over the title of rapper with the most Grammys, taking home Best Rap Album for GNX. Noted for his attention to literary quality and witty, political lyricism, the album showcases his position as rap’s most standout act.
Kendrick dominates the Grammys, and his work shows us why.
Best R&B Album: Leon Thomas — Mutt
With its buttery production and nod to classic R&B influences, Leon Thomas was a shoo-in for Best R&B Album with Mutt. The nostalgic vibes paired with masterful storytelling secured his win. This win was quieter than the rest, but it will be remembered for its impact within the genre.
Best Dance-Pop Recording: Lady Gaga — Abracadabra
It was a night of wins for Lady Gaga, who also swept the award for Best Dance-Pop Recording with “Abracadabra”. The high-energy of the song made it a club classic, and it stayed stable on playlists throughout the previous year. The track shows that even a decade later, Lady Gaga commands the dance floor.
Best Música Urbana Album: Bad Bunny — DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Album of the Year wasn’t the only award Bad Bunny took home; he also went home with Best Música Urbana Album, with his dominance not being reliant on specific categories.
The Grammys have been showing a growing appreciation of Latin music as a central force in the music industry. And Bad Bunny’s wins are proof of that.
Best Contemporary Country Album: Jelly Roll — Beautifully Broken
Beautifully Broken earned Jelly Roll a win for Best Contemporary Country Album. Honesty, vulnerability and themes of redemption were put across with crooning vocals, leaving listeners unable to look away.
The win shows the favourable fusion of confessional writing and country production.
Best Rock Album: Turnstile — Never Enough
Hardcore rock has worked its way back into the Grammy conversation with Turnstile’s win. The album is loud, frantic and glaringly raw. This brought back the honesty that makes rock what it is, rejecting the modern polished version of rock tampered for radio airplay.
Producer & Songwriter of the Year
Cirkut’s production defined the sonic identity of pop this year, working with big names such as Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd, making the win as Producer of the Year inevitable. Similarly, the industry finally gave Amy Allen due recognition for her work as a lyricist on major tracks from the past year, including Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild and Rosé’s APT.
The wins this year are an encouraging picture of an industry taking an inclusive approach to honouring music from all walks of life, and creating a space for newer artists to flourish in their craft.
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